THERE is no end to the woes of the Opposition as its leadership is being sent behind the bars one after the other despite indication of some relief from the judiciary. Senior and vocal PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Monday from the anti-corruption watchdog’s Rawalpindi chapter’s office where he had appeared to record his statement in the case regarding alleged corruption in Narowal Sports City (NSC) Project.
There is general impression that with the arrest of Ahsan Iqbal, PML(N) has been deprived of a leader who had been pleading the cause of the party both within Parliament and outside. It was not a coincident that Rawalpindi district administration, which is obviously acting as per directions of provincial government, has denied Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) permission to hold a rally at Liaquat Bagh on December 27 to mark the 11th death anniversary of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, which was democratic right of the Party. Though security situation has been cited as the reason for the unconvincing decision but everyone knows it was part of the series of measures to put more pressure on the opposition. In a related development, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, like Ahsan Iqbal, was summoned by NAB but he declined to oblige saying the call-up notice served to him by the anti-corruption watchdog was “unconstitutional and illegal”. Arrest of Ahsan Iqbal in a corruption case has surprised many as he has a general reputation of being a clean and honest man. He was elected five times to the National Assembly and held important portfolios but there was never any complaint or allegation of corruption against him. In fact, he was one of the saner voices and competent leaders that the country has but the PML(N) believes he is being targeted for his loyalty with Sharifs as was also the case with Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Implications of those leaders who genuinely served the cause of the country makes the process of accountability questionable with serious implications for developmental pursuits of the country. Opposition is complaining that the entire process of accountability was lopsided as clear instances of corruption in cases like Peshawar Metro, Malam Jabba Tourist Resort and non-transparent leasing of mines in the KP are not being touched by NAB while the opposition leaders are being harassed on account of decisions they legally and transparently made when in power. The points raised by NAB about Narowal Complex are as frivolous as the points agitated while arresting Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in LNG contract and might not withstand the scrutiny of law and justice. The Government would hardly get any political mileage by putting the entire leadership of the opposition in jails except to create ill-will and pollute the political environment. This also does not augur well for the legislative agenda of the Government, which it cannot undertake without active cooperation of PML(N) and PPP.
